Celebrity
THE REAL ME
Dame Helen Mirren, the Oscar-winning actress and L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, 77, chats about Christmas traditions, unusual favourite gifts and her beauty routine ame Helen Mirren has been gracing stages and big screens since the 1960s. Her list of credits is as impressive as it is varied. From her breakout role as Cleopatra in 1965, her time with the Royal Shakespeare Company and throughout her career, she had played countless important women, most notably Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film The Queen, for which she won an Oscar.
Calling her a national treasure doesn’t feel grand enough – really, she’s an icon. She’s known for her sense of humour and her striking dress sense – we always look forward to seeing what she’s wearing at big events, whether that’s walking in Paris Fashion Week or making a showstopping appearance in a glamorous, sweeping gown. Her role as a L’Oréal Paris spokesperson has her starring on billboard ads well into her 70s.
We speak while she is in the middle of filming the new series 1923, in which she stars alongside Harrison Ford. Purring down the phone from a film set in Montana while looking out at a dramatic mountain range (she tells me), we chat about her favourite things during the festive season, her must-buy products, and her best tips for looking and feeling great.
I’m often asked about my best beauty tip, but I think what’s most important is how you stand and how you hold yourself.
It makes such an incredible difference to the way you look. It’s such a simple thing of sitting up straight and throwing your shoulders back. Put your chin up and face the world in a positive way, as opposed to in an apologetic way. It’s think it’s greatest beauty trick of all.
I absolutely love Christmas.
It starts with the Christmas cards – they can’t have enough sparkle on them. Although I was told that now sparkle on cards has become either illegal or, you know, undesirable because of the environment. And certainly, if that’s the case, I’d prefer the environment over the glitter! But if we can find an eco way of sparkling up our Christmas cards, I would be very happy about that.
As winter draws in and the colder nights begin, I love looking around and seeing all the shop windows with their amazing decorations.
It’s great to be in the city for Christmas – Ilove the way the houses start lighting up.
If I needed to feel amazing in five minutes…
I’d apply a really good lipstick. I would recommend L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Intense Volume Matte, £9.99, Boots. It’s a wonderful lipstick that really lasts and doesn’t wander all over your face. I’d pick a purple-toned red shade, like Plum Dominant. I’m sometimes in the mood for a more natural lip, aided by a very subtle bit of lip lining. One of my mantras is th
